Living Fragments

The Human Body Editors’ Pick

“The human body is the best picture of the human soul” – Ludwig Wittgenstein

Following Alison Morley of the ICP’s selection of winning images for our ‘THE HUMAN BODY’ theme, this compilation of 20 images, selected by the Life Framer editors represents some of the other talented photographers whose work struck us and left a mark. Some are more literal representations of the theme, and others are more abstract, but each one is a stunning image worthy of exposure and attention.

These are intended to be a conversation starter… so feel free to join the discussion on our social networks.

Image and text courtesy of Jeremy Knowles.

“In the immediate run up to the 2017 solar eclipse seen in totality across several States of North America the media coverage of the event both national and local was considerable At a time of political shifts within the White House following a series of senior staff resignations continued suspicions over claims of Russian hacking in the 2016 presidential election growing tensions between the US and North Korea after missile fears for Guam and domestic clashes in Charlottesville between White Nationalists and counter protestors over the Civil War monument dispute the eclipse story became a simple distraction

Repetitive reports ran daily – ranging from how to best watch the eclipse in which States and what times how to safely observe it without damaging the eye ways to construct homemade viewing devices etc to discussions of a shortage of eclipse glasses in stores across the country thus prompting shipments from the UK and Bonnie Tyler announcing that she would sing Total Eclipse of the Heart on board a cruise ship leaving from Florida

In looking up at the eclipse as it was told to me by the people I spoke with at the time there was a shared feeling of having witnessed the miraculous One news reporter later described it as magical It happened regardless of political and cultural stresses and it happened for everyone But for those who were too late to buy eclipse glasses a Cheerios box with a pinhole on the side was all they needed to look away from America and forget.”

“My work speaks of the human condition and our increasing alienation from our own bodies. I contort my subjects by constructing poses that alter them, transforming what should be intimately familiar into an unfamiliar sculpture. Through this medium I try to create a tension by restricting your view to that of the camera. In an age when we are saturated with digitally altered and enhanced imagery these real, fleshy sculptures challenge how we are situated in our own skin”.

Image and text courtesy of Jutharat Pinyodoonyachet from his series ‘Un-Organ’.

“There are little surprises hidden everywhere. Un-Organ is a photo series focusing on different aspects of the human body in minute detail. I found that these half-living fragments become special when not fully seen, so I shined a spotlight on them”.

Image and text courtesy of Rene Maurin from her series ‘Minor Mythology’.

“These are bright colorful images of people I think about at certain times and forget again at others. Perhaps they struggle when unemployed, endure drug rehab, got recently divorced or ponder age. They may as well hide petite parables assembled from the shards of their memories and wrapped in the cellophane of ancient language. I however know they yearn to rearrange the mundane repetition into something we can’t live without. These images should not debate those matters raising anguish. They shall not be anything but a shallow colorful celebration of people’s presence and their minor, albeit fundamental, mythology”.

Image and text courtesy of Ezgi Guler from her series ‘The Invisible Human Project’.

“The Invisible Human Project is an effort to objectify both the usual and the imaginary side of our feelings, thoughts and movements that we don’t reveal; while capturing the parts of body that we don’t see in daily life. It aims to make people more visible and encourage them to be themselves”.

Image and text courtesy of Demetris Koilalous from his series ‘Heterotopia’.

“Literally speaking, Heterotopia is defined as the other space an underlying layer beyond reality an ultimate space of meaning behind the world of appearances and definitions. Heterotopia is the mirror image of an authentic at the same time existent and fictional. Heterotopia is the point where Utopia meets reality and does not refer solely to a specific physical geographical space but rather to a space of underlying relationships of culture and power which determine contemporary societies. Heterotopia looks at what has been accomplished in contemporary Israel in the name of the Promised Land. Towards an understanding of the evolution of contemporary Israel , Heterotopia attempts to raise questions about relationships of culture, power and authority”.

Image and text courtesy of Rocio de Alba from her series ‘She Who Found Grace’.

“In this new multimedia series I explore my determination to conquer and achieve what was once a paralyzing angst – radical acceptance of death. With the assistance of a professional counselor I remedied this fear when confronted by the revelation that although end of life is inevitable, in reality my body is slowly dying the longer I live. As simpleton as it may sound it was ground breaking for me, thus inspiring my ongoing intrigue concerning self-portraiture in order to convey this figurative narrative. Unlike the conventional portrait however, in this series I integrate abstract trends in art using macro-optics, sculptures and a 3-D stereograph installation that illustrates brazen images of my naked body, documenting my physical transition caused by the aging process. Working against the male dominated history of idealized nude portraits of women, these images serve as cathartic mechanism that denounce marginalized dialogues about body shame and death. The playful pastel color scheme serves as a metaphor aimed to ease potential psychological tension – methods used in Eastern cultures manifested by their subjective perceptions of beauty as they confront a physique amplified with imperfections. My objective is to commence healthy dialogues about death and help shift social conventions that transform the elderly community into invisible and insignificant clusters.”

“My self-portraits represent various scenes each unfolding a surprising plot. Sometimes it is a sudden smile, instant humour or outright hilarity. However the real story only reveals itself to a patient and attentive spectator. It is similar to the moment when you slip in the street and everyone is staring at you. Although I’m the model in these portraits the main theme is the woman as a human being in general. I’m driven by questions about family life, my body and my place in this world. And don’t you dare answer those questions.”